A number of the class of 1979 gathered at Beach Chalet Restaurant in San Francisco on March 8, 2024, to celebrate Murder at Beach Chalet, co-authored by Paul Totah ’79. From left are Mike DeNeffe, Bob Dennis (Bucko), Tim Rueda, Don Nejedly (who organized the gathering), Bob McCarrick, Paul Totah, Jerry Henberger, Kat Anderson, Dan […]

Ann Stuart J.D. ’79 was never one to let lifelong ambitions pass her by. At 45 years old, Ann reinvented herself from elementary school teacher to lawyer. After enrolling at Santa Clara Law School and passing the California Bar Exam on her first try, she practiced family law then joined District Attorney’s Office of Santa […]

Charles Chaffin M.A. ’79 was a natural teacher and students loved being in his class. He kept up with many of his former students through the years. To Chuck, learning was a life-long activity that extended well beyond one’s school years. During a sabbatical from teaching, Chuck earned a master’s degree in climatology and started […]

Janet Napolitano ’79 was appointed as a member of the Biden administration’s Intelligence Advisory Board. She is currently a professor of Public Policy at the Goldman School of Public Policy and the Founder and Faculty Director of the Center for Security in Politics at UC Berkeley. Previously she served as the twentieth president of the […]

Paul Totah ’79 has two new books out, both available on Amazon. Murder at Beach Chalet is a historical mystery that tells the story of Irish and Chinese immigrants spanning from 1934 to 1965. His second book, Earth, Word, Fire and Water, is a collection of poetry paired with landscape photos of Sonoma through Santa […]

Avid outdoorsman Benedict Giese ’79 spent countless hours hiking, fishing, and camping with his family, sharing his knowledge and love of the wilderness with those around him. Ben loved sitting by the campfire and telling stories to his sons. He also had an extraordinary talent for painting watercolors, loved flying remote control airplanes, and creating […]

While he navigated a successful career as a real estate broker, Christian Mendoza ’79 also pursued a wide range of passions, from singing to oil painting to cooking to studying medicine. Christian was especially passionate about music: singing in church, playing the piano and singing songs by Frank Sinatra, The Three Tenors, and Rod Stewart. […]

After graduating from SCU, John “Jay” Cattermole ’79 went to work for Chevron before moving to Constellation New Energy, where he worked his way up to western region vice president. Jay’s work brought him great joy, success, and, most importantly, lifelong friendships. In May 1995, Jay married Maureen Nunes in Modesto. They raised daughters Emily and […]

Michael Dee ’79 is Director of Real Estate for Inspire Brands, one of the largest restaurant companies in the U.S. which includes such iconic brands as Arby’s, Sonic, Buffalo Wild Wings, Jimmy John’s, Rusty Taco and Dunkin Brands (Dunkin Donuts & Baskin Robbins). He and his wife of 29 years, Julie have 3 grown daughters. […]

 Dorothy Gray J.D. ’79 died Jan. 2, 2022. She led a classic 1950s southern California teen existence of beaches, mountains, and the freeways in between. After graduating, she worked for local papers and later ventured into screenwriting. Her scripts included episodes of “I Love Lucy” and “The Fugitive” among other shows. Next she ventured into politics […]

John O’Connor ’79 cherished and lived by his family’s legacy of hardwork and steadfast faith. He met the love of his life, Maureen Dennehy ’81, at Santa Clara University. After graduation, John worked for and later led Luppen & Hawley, Inc. for over 25 years. His time in the mechanical contracting industry left him with […]

Timothy Bonnel ’79 devoted his working life to expanding student access to higher education, becoming one of California’s most respected leaders in student financial aid advocacy through his work with the California Student Aid Commission and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Friends and family knew Tim as a proud grandfather and purveyor of pistachios and […]

Centenarian and lifelong traveler Lorrainne McLaughlin M.A. ’79 loved every moment of her life. While she worked primarily in the insurance industry, she held a soft spot for children and enjoyed working as a substitute teacher. Her greatest joy was being a eucharistic minister at Stanford Hospital in the children’s ward and at Holy Trinity […]

Glenn Litwak J.D. ’79 has been an entertainment attorney for film, TV, and music. Glenn’s practice is located in Santa Monica, Calif. For the last three years, he has worked on his own column in Music Connection Magazine called “The Legal Beat.” Glenn has also been a speaker at music conferences around the country such […]

Barry O’Brien ’79 is a co-executive producer of  LAW & ORDER: ORGANIZED CRIME. The show is currently airing on NBC.

Kevin Duncan ’79 died on January 28, 2021, at the age of 64. Kevin’s family provided extraordinary care while he fought frontotemporal dementia—requiring advanced medical and memory care—for well over 10 years. Kevin was the second youngest son of a proud Irish family with five boys. His parents raised him to be principled, stubborn, honest, hardworking […]

Leigh Ellen (Carter) Halvorsen MBA ’79 met and married met and married Ronald Halvorsen while in college. After he died, she moved to Santa Rosa, CA in 1989 and then to her own ranch in 1998. Leigh worked as a systems analyst, controller, and accountant for many tech companies. Leigh always had a black cat and raised […]

A fabulous golfer—three hole-in-ones—and an amazing storyteller Ray Wagstaffe ’79 died March 10, 2020. But not before he could fit a great life into 63 years, despite facing cancer and diabetes. Wagstaff worked in international sales for Texas Instruments, among other jobs, witnesses Matt Cain’s perfect game, and shared more stories than is possible to count. He […]

Janet Napolitano ’79 received the Change Maker Award at the Fourth Annual Experience Matters Luncheon. She has experience as the 21st Arizona Governor from 2003 to 2009. She was named U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security by President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013. She was also the University of California system President since 2013 but […]

The son of Lee O. Torr III and Regina E. (Cuneo) Torr, Lee Torr IV ’79 was a lifelong resident of Monte Rio, attending Monte Rio Elementary School and graduating from Santa Rosa’s Cardinal Newman High School (class of 1974) before graduating from SCU. In 1979 he joined his father in the real estate and […]